Dustpan



R. SAMMS Sept. 9, 1941.

DUSTPAN Filed Dec. 21, 1940 Patented Sept. 9, 1 941 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUSTPAN Roy Samms, Charleston, w. Va. Application December 21, 1940, Serial No. 371,187

(on. 65-62) I 3 Claims.

My invention is directed to a broom adjunct and more particularly to a combined dustpan and broom reinforcing means.

In brooms of ordinary construction, the panicles of the broom-corn are constringed at one end and secured about the end of a broom-stick by means of broom-wire and with the portions of the panicles forming the broom-head being secured in contrusion by means of rows of tie cords or members. In the operation of a broom of the above described character, the tie members often become broken due to inferior construction or by reason of excessive strains being applied thereto during sweeping and which condition frequently occurs before the panicles of the broom are sufficiently worn to warrant discarding of the broom. 1

It is therefore one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a broom adjunct or device so constructed and arranged whereby the same may be readily attached to a broom for reinforcing the head thereof and to serve as an adjutment for the tie members in maintaining the panicles in contrusion.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character so constructed and arranged that the same may be utilized as a dustpan when detached from the broom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above described character equipped with means for effecting self-clamping of the device to the broom and serving as a pocket or sump when the device is utilized as a dustpan.

An important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a broom having my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of my invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a top plan view.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

In practising my invention, as illustrated in the drawing, I provide a one-piece resilient body 5, the latter being constructed of a suitable resilient plastic material, for instance, Temte, al-

though, if desired, resilient metal may be employed.- The body 5 is of a substantially scopuli- 'form contour and is provided with substantially tubular and semioval sections 6 and I respectively. The tubular section 6 is slotted throughout its length as at 8' and constitutes a clamping handle member 9 for self-clamping engagement about an inserted broom-stick ID of a broom H. The tubular member 6 is of a greater diameter adjacent the section I for receiving therein the constringed wired ends i2 of the panicles l3 of the broom-head l4.

With respect to the section 6, the section I comprises proximous and distal portions l5 and i6 respectively, the distal portion I 6 being formed with a floor engaging and normally straight edge I? for a purpose hereinafter made apparent. The proximous and distal portions constitute an apron i8 disposed in substantially appressed relation over the rear face of the head i 4 andwith the apron fashioned throughout its length with marginal arciforrn oppositely disposed flanges i 9 for clampingly embracing the sides of the head I t about the cords or tie members 2!] securing the panicles in contrusion. Adjacent the tubular section, the flanges are formed with inwardly extending incurvated lips 2i disposed in spatiality with the adjacent or inner face of the apron and which lips engage the margins of the opposite or front face of the head it. The flanges i 9 and lips 2i merge with the tubular section 6 and coact with the apron it to maintain the semioval section I clamped to the head of the broom.

The outer face of the apron is fashioned with a convex ajutment 22 extending throughout the width of the apron and between the tubular section 6 and the distal portion Hi. The ajutment 22 is provided with an inner concave face defining a pocket or sump 23 in the adjacent or inner face of the apron. The ajutment constitutes reinforcing means for the apron and which means serves to urge the lips and their respective flanges toward each other when clampingly disposed about the head.

In use, the broom-stick is inserted upwardly through the handle member to dispose the head of the broom between the flanges and the apron and lips for clamping engagement therewith and inasmuch as the outer end of the tubular section is of a lesser diameter than that of the broomstick, said tubular member will be clamped about the broom-stick. A reverse operation serves to remove the device from the broom for service as a dustpan. When utilized as a dustpan, the ajutment serves to maintain the floor engaging edge of the distal portion in a straight plane for appressed engagement with the floor to facili-. tate disposal of sweepings from the floor into the sump over the distal portionand when the handle member is utilized to position the apron at an angle with respect to the floor. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my device provides a novel and efllcient means for reinforcing the head of the broom when attached thereto and serves as a dustpan when detached from the broom.

fWh'ile I have disclosed my invention as constructed of a resilient material, it is to be understood that the same may be constructed of a nonyieldable material wherein the handle member embraces the broom-stick and the flanges and lips coact. with the apron to constringe the panicles between the flanges and the lips and apron thereby maintaining the device frictionally secured on the head of the broom. In this construction, the ajutment reinforces the apron to maintain the flanges and their lips in fixed relation and also the floor engaging edge of the distal portion disposed in a straight plane at all times.

; When the dust pan is detached from the broom and used for receiving sweepings from the floor, the hollow handle serves as a means whereby the sweepings may be discharged from the apron into a relatively narrow mouth of a receptacle. Furthermore, the portions of the handle defining the slot 8 are spaced a sufl'icient distance apart to enable the handle to be laterally disengaged from the broom-stick between its ends when the apron is disposed above the broom head and to preclude disengagement of the handle from the stick when the apron is disposed about the head, it being understood that the broom-stick tapers inwardly away from the broom head.

1 Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain theinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly-since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is only illustrative of the'principles of operation; which are capable of extended application in various forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1 1. In a .device of the character described, a one-piece resilient body adapted to be attached to a broom for reinforcing the tie members securing the panicles of the broom in contrusion and with said body constituting an apron provided at one end with a clamp for clamping engagement about a broom-stick and at the opposite end with a floor engaging edge, said apron provided with proximous and distal portions with respect to said first mentioned end and with said -apron adapted to be disposed in substantially appressed relation over one face of the broomhead and covering said tie members, said apron provided with marginal oppositely 'disposed flanges for clampingly embracing the sides of said head and with said flanges formed with inwardly extending lips adjacent said clamp and disposed respective flanges for engaging the margins of the opposite face of said head, said flanges and lips coacting with the apron to maintain the latter clamped to said head, said apron having an outer face provided with a convex ajutment transversing the apron and disposed adjacent said first mentioned end, said ajutment having an inner concave face defining a sump in said apron and with said ajutment constituting means for urging said lips and their respective flanges toward each other when clampingly disposed about said head, and said ajutment, when said body is removed from said head, maintaining said edge straight andv in appressed engagement with a floor and at an angle thereto to facilitate disposal of sweepings from said. floor into said sump.

2. In a device of the character described, a one-piece resilient body adapted to be attached to a broom for reinforcing the tie members securing the panicles of the broom together and withsaidbody being of a substantially scopuliform contour and fashioned with substantially tubular and semioval sections, said tubular section being slotted throughout its length and constituting a clamping handle member for self-clamping engagement about a broom-stick and with said tubular member being of a greater diameter adjacent said semioval section for receiving the constringed wired ends of the panicles of a broom, said semioval section having proximous and distal portions with respect tosaid handle member and with the distal portion having a floor engaging and normally straight edge, said portions constituting an apron adapted to be disposed in substantially appressed relation over one face of the head of said broom and covering said tie members, said apron fashioned throughout its length with marginal arciform oppositely disposed flanges for clampingly embracing the sides of said head about said tie members, said flanges terminating in inwardly extending incurvated lips adjacent said tubular section and with said lips disposed in spatiality with the adjacent face of the apron for engaging the margins of the opposite face of said head, said flanges and lips merging with said handle member and coacting with the apron to maintain said semioval section clamped to the head of said broom, said apron having an outer face fashioned with a convex ajutment extending throughout the width of the apron and between said tubular section and said distal portion, said. ajutment having an inner concave face defining a sump in said adjacent face of said apron and with said ajutment constituting means for urging said lips and their toward each other when clampingly disposed about said head, and said ajutment, when said body is removed from saidhead, maintaining said edge of said distal portion straight and in appressed engagement with a floor and at an angle thereto to facilitate disposal of sweepings from said floor into said sump.

3. In a. device of the character described, a body adapted to be attached to a broom for reinforcing the tie members securing the panicles of the broom-head in contrusion and with said body constituting a resilient apron provided at one end with clamping means for clamping en gagement about a broom-stick and at the opposite end with a floor engaging edge, said apron adapted for overlying engagement with one face of the broom-head and provided with laterally in spatiality with the adjacent face of said apron disposed members for embracing the sides and the marginsof the opposite face of said head, sa d apron having an outer face provided with a head, maintaining said edge straight and in appressed engagement with the floor and at an angle thereto to facilitate disposal of sweepings convex ajutment transversing the apron and an inner concave face defining a sump in said apron vand with said ajutment constituting means for urging said members toward each other when clampingly disposed about said head, and said ajutment, when said body is removed from said from said floor into said sump.

ROY SAMIMS. 

